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Photo source: Whananaki School This Friday is my favourite day of the year. For the last six weeks the sound of kids practicing kapa haka has been echoing around the estuary and, this Friday, we all get to see the fruits of their hard work at the Whananaki School's kapa haka celebration. Starting at 4:30pm with the scores of stalls selling kai as a fundraiser, if there is one event that's a must-do on the Whananaki social calendar, this is it. It's getting a little more form

Liz & Wally Young inside Whananaki Store circa. 1972 As a really young kid (the store burnt down when I was 8), Wally & Liz Young had Whananaki Store. It was a real rabbit warren, filled floor-to-ceiling with every possible thing a local or tourist could ever need. I was absolutely fascinated. I would've spent hours there if I was allowed. There were fishing rods, hawaiian shirts, pumpkin and a toaster. You could buy a greeting card, button or a zip. You could fill the

The Whananaki FM Mystery Sound is back. Can you identify this sound? It was recorded around Whananaki sometime in the last few weeks. Play weekends at 9am live on the Greatest Radio Station in the World! Whananaki FM!

Jodi Edwards paid tribute to local stalwart Lyn Gray this morning on Whananaki FM. Lyn passed away this week. Our aroha and condolences go out to the Gray whanau. We love you guys!

Even for its owner Bruce Barron, it's hard to estimate how many people have been camping at Motutara Farm over its 50+ years as (in Whananaki FM's view) the most beautiful campground in the country. The sprawling farm camp nestled between two stunning beaches was started by Bruce's parents Hugh & Lois Barron, but since 1990 Bruce and Helen have been the people welcoming back the summer masses. For the campers lucky enough to get a booking at Motutara Farm its often generat

Bruce Powell (left), wife Brenda Powell (right) and eldest daughter Christine (middle) back in the black-and-white days. Bruce Powell first caught sight of Whananaki in 1941. Within 10 years he'd marry Brenda Barron and, later, take over his father-in-law James Barron's farm on the flat by the estuary (now the Chilcott subdivision). A chat with an awesome Whananaki stalwart about what Whananaki was like back in the old days... when the road was a track and you didn't need a

What does it take to get 40 kids fired up to crank out an amazing kapa haka performance? The presentation by the Whananaki School kids was undoubtably the highlight of the Capitaine Bougainville commemoration, and now ahead of their end-of-year performance on November 28th, we find out just how they do it. Tracey Mita and G Henry head-up the kapa haka tutorials. Here, Tracey talks about the impact the class has on the kids and how she gets the kids ready for the big stage.

Since arriving in the district in 1967 after swapping their farm in Titoki for one in Whananaki, Betty Carson along with husband Jeff have proved to be an absolute local legends. She's run the shop, was instrumental in building our local library, helped get the Te Araroa trail going and been at the forefront of many fundraisers and community projects - but while Betty would say she's just one of the many who helped build up Whananaki over the last 60 years, the truth is its

He's the man who moved to Marua to start a brewery - Ben Heaven of Heaven's Brewery has had an amazing couple of years - from being named...

Ian Peters in his role as a JP drawing a prize for Riding For The Disabled. A Whananaki legend joined us for our Meet Your Neighbour...

In a new Saturday morning feature on Whananaki FM, we meet a different local each week and find out their unique story! For our first...

Rain, hail, sun or wind she'll be out there delivering your bills and online shopping from Temu! Meet our new rural mail delivery...

Whananaki School One of the highlight's of the commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Capitaine Bougainville disaster was the...

People arrive at the Capitaine Bougainville monument to remember the loss Whananaki played host to survivors and whanau of the victims of...

Captain Jean-Raymond Thomas (left) next to his lifeboat 50 years after the Capitaine Bougainville disaster (Photo/Dallas Gurney) It...

The day has come.  50 years ago, the Capitaine Bougainville was lost off the coast of Whananaki. Sixteen people died in the tragedy. ...

The Capitaine Bougainville Monument overlooking Graham's Bay. (Photo / WDC) Whananaki is rolling out the welcome mat for survivors and...

Whananaki Fire Chief Barney Bennett clearing the debris ahead of Wednesday's Capitaine Bougainville 50th commemorations. (Photo / Terry...

Ben Heaven, from Heaven's Brewery pours himself a cold one. (Photo: NZME) They would’ve been sinking a few celebratory ales last weekend...

Donna Gurney (left), owner of Whananaki FM. Photo / supplied. Listeners from as far afield as Auckland, Hamilton, Napier and Australia...